In 1965, two British sisters bought a Cornish Island for £22,000; they lived there for nearly 40 years and left it forever protected as a wildlife reserve

In 1965, sisters Roselyn “Babs” Atkins and Evelyn “Attie” Atkins turned a long-held dream into a remarkable experiment in island living when they bought Looe Island, off the coast of Cornwall, for £22,000. Also known as St George’s Island, the roughly 22-acre (roughly nine hectares) island became their home for almost four decades, and after they were gone, it was passed down to the care of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, ensuring that its woodland, maritime grassland, rocky shores and surrounding waters would be managed for wildlife rather than intensive development. Today, the island is a protected marine nature reserve with a notable conservation history. According to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust , the island provides a haven for both terrestrial and marine wildlife.

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